How Many People Are Named Olaf?
Complete statistics for the name Olaf: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Olaf means 'ancestor's descendant' in Old Norse, making it a name rich in heritage. Only 935 people named Olaf live in the US today, which means 1 in 353,037 Americans have this rare moniker. The majority, 72%, are over 60, showing how this is an old-school name.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 7 symbolizes introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 84All 2,514 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1916Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Olaf Through the Generations
Olaf has been a name steeped in tradition since its peak in 1916 when 79 babies were given this name. Today, there are 935 people named Olaf in the United States, with the oldest generation dominating the count. Of those, 325 are under 30, 372 are between 30 and 60, and 1,817 are over 60, indicating a strong preference for this name among older generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Olaf
Olaf or Olav is a Dutch, Polish, Scandinavian and German given name. It is presumably of Proto-Norse origin, reconstructed as *Anu-laibaz, from anu "ancestor, grand-father" and laibaz "heirloom, descendant". Old English forms are attested as Ǣlāf, Anlāf. The corresponding Old Novgorod dialect form is Uleb. A later English form of the name is Olave.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Olaf's Old Norse roots
📄 About the Name Olaf
How Many People Have the Name Olaf?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 935 people in the United States currently share the name Olaf. That works out to roughly 1 in every 353,037 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Olaf a Common or Rare Name?
Olaf is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Olaf Mean?
Olaf means "ancestor's descendant" and comes from Old Norse origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Olaf in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Olaf Most Popular?
The name Olaf reached peak popularity in 1916, with 79 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Olaf?
Approximately 935 people named Olaf live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 2,514. That works out to roughly 1 in 353,037 Americans.
Is Olaf a rare name?
Olaf is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 353,037 Americans has this name.
What does the name Olaf mean?
Olaf means "ancestor's descendant" and comes from Old Norse origins.
Is Olaf more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Olaf are male and 0% are female.
When was Olaf most popular?
Olaf peaked in 1916 with 79 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.